Going big Down Under
Audi marked a milestone moment for the four rings at the Australian Grand Prix, making its Formula 1 debut in Melbourne and scoring points in its very first race weekend.
Audi Revolut F1 Team opened its Formula 1 chapter with an encouraging result at Albert Park, where Gabriel Bortoleto delivered a composed drive to finish ninth and bring home two points for the team. Starting from P10, the Brazilian gained a place by the chequered flag to secure Audi’s first points in the Constructors’ Championship.
It was a promising yet bittersweet debut overall. Nico Hulkenberg had shown strong pace throughout the weekend and qualified 11th, but a technical issue on the way to the grid forced the team to withdraw car #27 before the formation lap. The team later said telemetry from the car had been lost, preventing an immediate diagnosis. The issue will be investigated further.
Beyond the race result, Audi’s Formula 1 debut signaled the start of a new era for the brand, on and off the track. From the airport to the city center, Melbourne carried a strong Audi presence throughout the weekend.
Ahead of the Grand Prix, Hulkenberg and Bortoleto unveiled the new Audi RS 5 at Albert Park, marking its first public appearance in the southern hemisphere just two weeks after its world premiere. As the first RS model with a hybrid drive, the new Audi RS 5 reflects the technical direction shared by today’s Formula 1 cars, whose power output is now nearly 50 percent electric. That connection between road and race was further highlighted in a film showing the new RS 5 lapping Albert Park while linked to Audi Revolut F1 Team engineers in Mission Control.
Audi’s motorsport heritage also played a visible role in Melbourne. For the Formula 1 debut, Audi Tradition brought the legendary crocodile-liveried Audi R8 out of the museum. The car won the “Race of a Thousand Years” in Adelaide on December 31, 2000. Allan McNish, one of the winning drivers from that race and now head of the Audi Driver Development Programme, was also behind the wheel in Melbourne.
In downtown Melbourne, Audi Revolut F1 Team established a public hub at AFLOAT on the Yarra River. The floating venue served as the team’s headquarters in the city during the Grand Prix weekend, welcoming guests and fans to watch sessions live and engage with the brand. Attractions included the crocodile-themed Audi R8 and a show car version of the Audi R26.
“The start of our first Formula 1 season marks the beginning of a new chapter for Audi, both on and off the track,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG.
Audi’s Formula 1 debut builds on more than 100 years of motorsport heritage, from the Auto Union Type C to rally, touring car, endurance, and hybrid racing success. As Audi leaves Melbourne with its first points, the focus now turns to building momentum race by race.
